August 2014 Issue

A summary of this month's contents.

Active RF Detector Probe for DMMs

This low-cost detector probe allows you to measure RF signals from below 100kHz to over 1GHz, with your digital multimeter for signal voltages between 20mV and 10V r.m.s. You can use it with a probe or sniffer loop, and you can even measure the voltage across a coaxial cable load and calculate the power. Discrete i.c. design.

Add a UHF Link to a universal remote control

Add this tiny UHF module to your infra-red remote control and operate appliances by radio control instead of IR light, from anywhere in the house. Our companion UHF-to-Infra Red Converter (also described) is needed too, and is positioned close by the device to be controlled. PIC 12F675-powered, with free source code available from our Library.

Circuit modifications are also shown (with updated source code) to enable this design to be used with the 10-Channel Remote Control Receiver (July 2014 issue).

PC Birdies

A PIC-powered project that will bring the delightful sound of twittering birds into your home. Operating from a 3V coin cell, this project has two PIC12F675 MCUs that generate two channels of randomly-timed canary bird song, or chirps, tweets and warbles, played over independent piezo sounders.

Each burst of song lasts about eight seconds. They only sing during daylight thanks to the inclusion of a light-dependent resistor.

Low-current design draws 1.8µA during silence and 735µA per microcontroller when singing. A simple to build novelty circuit that will bring you lots of pleasure.

iPod Charger Adapter

This little circuit uses just a few parts and mates with a standard 5V switchmode plugpack or a standard USB supply/ charger. If you already have a 5V mains adaptor, this project will cost you less than a proprietary charger and is easy to build. A great way of adapting a USB charger to suit an iPod.

USB Port Voltage Checker

If you carry valuable data around on a USB flash drive, then this checker will test the suitability of a USB port voltage before you insert the memory device. Especially useful for guarding against damage from USB hubs, poor quality PC power rails or home-brew PCs that use USB pin headers on the motherboard where connection errors can arise.

PIC n' MIX

Also in this month's issue:

Technotalk – unsung heroes in electronics and the evolution of the BNC connector from its roots in WW2.

Audio Out – our new practical audio series explains how and why ‘wet’ electrolytic capacitors can be eradicated from audio circuits in favour of long-life devices, typically from the avionics industry.

Interface – using the Raspberry Pi and Python for timing events.

Circuit Surgery – selecting the right op-amp for your task. Practical hints and tips and an insight into data sheets.

Also contains revised source code for the 10-Channel Remote Control Receiver (July 2014 issue), allowing the IR receiver and 433MHz UHF receiver to be installed at the same time, so that both IR and UHF remote control signals can be used.

PCB artwork

As from July 2013 issue PCB artwork is available free to subscribers only.

Non-subscribers may purchase artwork files for a nominal sum. Please contact our Orders Dept for information or to place an order.

EPE Printed Circuit Boards

We can supply ready-made printed circuit boards (8-digit order codes) to the original design specification via mail order or from our Online Shop.